Reimbursement of medicines

Verified 01 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Would you like to know how much medication is reimbursed? The Health Insurance (Social Security) covers all or part of the medicines purchased in pharmacies. This depends both on the medicine concerned and on the conditions of prescription and dispensing. The reimbursement rate depends on the medical service rendered, i.e. the interest that this drug has from a medical point of view. We present you the rules to know.

3 cumulative conditions must be met for reimbursement: the drug is listed, it is prescribed by a health professional and is dispensed by a pharmacist.

Medicines on a list

To be reimbursed, the drug must be on the list of medications reimbursable to social insureds.

Please note

Homeopathic medicines and homeopathic preparations (HMP) are no longer reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

There are nicotine substitutes. It is a drug treatment that increases the chances of successfully quitting smoking.

Nicotine substitutes on the list of reimbursed nicotine substitutes shall be reimbursed to 65% on medical prescription.

The part of the expenses that remains your responsibility (after reimbursement of the Health Insurance and before deduction of lump-sum contributions) can be supported by your complementary.

FYI  

Pharmacies may waive the advance fee for these products.

Prescription by a healthcare professional

The drug must be prescribed by a health professional, within the limits of its prescription rights :

  • General practitioner or specialist
  • Midwife (within the limits of a drug shortlist)
  • Dental surgeon.

The prescription must be made on a prescription in accordance with the regulations. Thus, certain particulars are mandatory (examples: dosage and duration of treatment or number of boxes or vials).

If it is a so-called exceptional drug, the prescription is made on a specific printed called prescription of medicines or exceptional products and services. The so-called medications exception are particularly expensive. The National Order of Pharmacists listed these drugs.

Dispensing by the pharmacist

The pharmacist delivers the medicine to you.

In principle, the pharmacist can supply you with a quantity of medicines corresponding to a treatment lasting a maximum of 1 month (except for example for a departure abroad of more than 1 month).

Other rules of issue may apply depending on the situation (for example, for a wheelchair).

FYI  

One corresponding pharmacist may renew a prescription for the treatment of a long-term illness and, if necessary, adapt the dosage.

For certain pathologies, and under conditions, the pharmacist can deliver certain non-prescription medicines.

The dispensing of these drugs implies that the patient's attending physician is informed by the pharmacist.

To be reimbursed, the care sheet must be transmitted to your health insurance organization (the pharmacist automatically transmits it electronically).

For some drugs, it is necessary to make a request for prior agreement with your health insurance organization (example: for certain cholesterol medications).

You can benefit from the third-party payment with most pharmacists.

If you refuse a generic drug, you will be less well reimbursed.

FYI  

Remember to update your Vitale card at least once a year or when the situation changes (e.g. moving).

Information on the price and reimbursement rate of each drug is included on an invoice printed by the pharmacist on the back of the prescription (called an invoice) vital ticket).

In the pharmacy, depending on whether the reimbursable drug is exposed to public view, the price is indicated by:

Classification of medicinal products

Medicines are classified into several categories according to their medical service rendered (SMR): irreplaceable and expensive medicine, major or important SMR, moderate SMR, low SMR.

Tableau - Reimbursement rates for drugs according to their SMR

Categories of medicines

Reimbursement Rate

Irreplaceable and expensive drug

100%

Major or important SMR drug

65%

Moderate SMR drug and some compounding

30%

Low SMR drug

15%

The reimbursement rate shall apply on the basis of:

  • The selling price (price set by regulation)
  • Or a flat rate of liability (reference rate for the reimbursement of certain drugs).

Please note

Nicotine substitutes on the list of reimbursed nicotine substitutes shall be reimbursed to 65% on medical prescription.

Medical deductible

One deductible from €1 is deducted from the medicines reimbursed by the Health Insurance (directly from the reimbursement statement).

The amount of the medical deductible is capped at €70 per year and per person.

Example :

If you buy a box of medicines for an amount of €20, and that this medicinal product is reimbursed to 65%, the Health Insurance will reimburse you €12. Calculation detail: €13 (65% from €20) which are removed €1 of frankness.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Health Info Rights

    Telephone line created by a collective of user associations to provide legal or social information related to health

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    01 53 62 40 30

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    Open service:

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    By email

    https://www.france-assos-sante.org/sante-info-droits/

    The maximum response time by email is 15 days.

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